Headlight lens



c. H. TUMEY, SR

HEADLIGHT LENS iled March 4, 1926 Quiet LJi Tum e Patented July 24, 1928.

UNITED STATES CHARLES H. TUMEY, $3., OF'SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS.

nmnmerrr LENS.

Application filed March 4, 1926. Serial No. 92,204.

The invention relates to lenses for headlights of, motor vehiclesand has for its object the provision of a lens thatywill permit the use of bright lights on automobiles without subjecting the drivers of approaching vehicles to glare from the headlights- In carrying out the invention a lens of approximately hemispherical shape is provided and adapted to be secured to the lamp casing, the upper portion ofthe lens being frosted to retard the light rays from the lamp to prevent passage of glaring light rays therethrough, while the lower portion of the lens is clear to permit free passage of the rays of light therethrough and formed in a ,series of concaved bands on its inner surface to deflect the light rays passing through the sides of the lens towards the sides of the road, thus resulting in the utilization of all of the light rays to illumimate the roadway and dispensing with the objectionable glare.

The, invention will be described in detail hereinafter and will be found illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which 1 Figure 1 is a front'view in elevation of the improved headlight lens,

Figure 2 is a side view in elevation,

Figure 3 is a horizontal sectional view on a plane indicated by the line 33 of Figure 1, and I Figure 4 a vertical sectional view on the plane indicated by the line 4-4 of Figure 1.

In the drawings similar reference characters will be used 'to designate corresponding parts throughout the several views.

The lens illustrated in the drawings comprises a substantially hemispherical ortion 1 having itsedge provided with a ange 2 for securing the lens in position in ,front of a lamp casing (not shown), the hemispheri'cal portion 1 bulging outwardly from the casing when the lens is in position. The

outer surf-ace of the hemispherical portion 1 is provided with a horizontal bead-3 arranged substantially midway between the upper and lower portions of said hemispherical portion, and the inner surface of the part of the lens above the bead 3 is roughened or frosted as shown at 4 to retard the passage of light rays therethrough and thus prevent glaring light rays strik ing. through the upper portion to interfere with the vision of the drivers of approach ing vehicles. The inner surface of the hemispherical portion 1' below the bead 3 is formed in a series of bands concaved as shown in Figure 3, there being one concaved band designated 5 in the middle of the lens and a series of narrower bands 6 on each side of the middle band 5 forming ridges 7 that are parallel to one another and on substantially vertical planes.

It will be apparent that in use, that as only the lower half of the hemispherical portion 1 is clear to permit'light rays to pass directly therethrough, the upper portionbeing frosted as heretofore described, no glaring rays passing through the upper portio'n and the lower portion being formed with the concaved bands 6 forming the ridges T, tl1e light rays passing through the lower portion .will be, deflected so as to diffuse the light over the surface of the roadway in advance of the vehicle and also to the sides of the roadway thus adequately illuminating the roadway in advance of the vehicle.

What is claimed is 1. A headlight lens, comprising a hemispherical body having its upper portion provided with means to retard the passage of light rays therethrough, the lower portion being transparent, and having its inner surface formed in a series of parallel transversely concaved bands forming ridgestherebetween, said ridges bein arranged on vertical planes, and the ban arranged in the middle of the lower portion being wider than the bands on either side thereof and concaved/on the inner surface of the lens,

the middle of said bands being wider'than the bands on either side thereof to direct light rays in advance of the lens, and'the other hands by following'the curvature of the lens body deflecting the rays of light therethrough to the'idesLof the lens;

In test-imonywhereof I aflix my signature.

cHAaLEs-ii. TUMEY, sR. 

